A Note to Newbie Rock Climbers

Bill Brown June 5, 2008

What could be more fun than desperately clinging to a rock face? Sixty feet off the ground, your fingertips digging into an impossibly small imperfection in the rock, your legs quaking from supporting your weight on a minute ledge, your friends shouting encouragement as you find the next hold and make your way up the wall, being lowered in triumph as your partner belays you down. There are countless reasons people love climbing. For some, it’s just a great excuse to go outside and hangout with your friends. Others enjoy the solitude, as many places are accessible only by a sizable hike, and most climbers will agree that there is great satisfaction in challenging yourself and overcoming a difficult wall. As the weather heats up, rock climbers begin to make the move from climbing gyms and improvised garage walls to the splendor of natural rock, and as climbers make this migration to the great outdoors, many beginners take their first steps into the climbing world. It’s a great world to be a part of, and its members are more than happy to have you! But just to make your first time go a bit more smoothly, here are a few brief and basic etiquette and technique tips:

  • Go with someone who knows what they’re doing. Make sure you’re going to be with someone who climbs regularly and has a respect for the wall. Rock climbing can be as safe or as dangerous as you make it, so make sure that you are with someone who knows what they’re doing.
  • Learn some climbing etiquette. Climbers are generally a laid-back group, but there are a few ways to make them regret taking you climbing. A few things to avoid are stepping on their climbing rope, not offering to carry gear, and not respecting the climbing area: avoid wrecking the flora and don’t leave any trash lying around.
  • Use your legs! We’ll talk more about technique later, but this is huge. When you climb, your legs are your bread and butter. Most guys want to power up the wall with their arms, which usually works great for about three feet before they tire out. You stand on your legs all day, and it just makes sense that they’ll hold you up on the wall longer than your arms will. You’ll hear this a lot from more experienced climbers, and it’ll make climbing a lot more fun when you listen.

The most important piece of advice is to have fun! You may not get to the top on your first try (or your tenth), but look around-you’re hanging out in the great outdoors with your friends. There’s no pressure to excel, and everybody who’s with you was a beginner at some point. So be patient with yourself and have a blast!

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2 Responses to “A Note to Newbie Rock Climbers”

  1. Climbing Shoe Review: La Sportiva’s Mythos : Backpacking and Hiking Gear Reviews - CascadeGear.com on July 28th, 2008 8:01 am

    […] I said on A Note to Newbie Rock Climbers, good footwork is essential to any climber’s arsenal. You stand on your feet all day, so it makes […]

  2. Climbing Hold Basics: Jugs and Pinches : Backpacking and Hiking Gear Reviews - CascadeGear.com on July 30th, 2008 9:20 pm

    […] climbers, we’ve talked about etiquette and gear, it’s time to get to the fun stuff. That’s right, I’m talking holds: jugs, slopers, […]

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